New Delhi: Faced with the Left criticism of the US move, Congress today (Oct 6, 2004) did some tightrope walking on the offer of FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to help probe the bomb blasts in Northeast region.

While appreciating US's concern, the party said it would have been better if the proposal was routed through the Centre.

"We appreciate the US concern for fighting terrorism. But we would have welcomed the offer if it was routed through the normal channel (Government of India)," party spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan told reporters when asked about the letter written by US Ambassador in India C Mulford to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in this regard.

Expressing full confidence in the country's intelligence agencies, she said it was not (not) for the first time that such an offer was made by the United States as similar offers were extended when terrorists attacked Indian Parliament and US Consulate in Kolkata.

Natrajan explained that the normal channel meant that it should have come through the Government "which after assessing the offer would have taken a view whether to accept it or not".

To a specific question whether the US move amounted to interference in the internal affairs of India, she merely said that it would have been better if the offer came through the normal channel.

She dismissed a suggestion that the Centre and the Assam Government were divided on the issue. "It is for the Government to assess the situation and take a view," she remarked.

To another question that Gogoi had welcomed the US offer, Natarajan said he has also added that it was subject to a decision by the Central Government.